11 games into season 25 saw manager TK5141 and his DIF71sGötecastleuleå team in top spot on 27 points, having won 8 and drawn 3. DIF71sGötecastleuleå who were cup champions last season, finished fifth last season, although they won the league back in season 22. Last seasons winners Degerhamns IF sat in second spot on 21 points with Ölandslaget in third on 17. Next came Hellmoppers FC on 16 points and fifth was occupied by Akta dobbarna with 14 points.

The relegation zone looked set to have claimed two victims already, although it was still mathematically possible for La Coruna and Chicken Killers to escape, the fact they were both on 6 points with just 9 more points left to play for, meant it would be a tough ask. The final relegation spot was occupied by Torpedo Mäsk with 10 points, meaning they were 4 points behind fifth.

Round 12 saw leaders DIF71sGötecastleuleå play third placed Ölandslaget away from home. Both teams ended up sharing the spoils as they played out a 2-2 draw. This gave second placed Degerhamns IF a chance to close the gap on the league leaders to just 4 points and with the top 2 playing each other in round 13, it could blow the title race wide open. It wasn’t to be however, as Degerhamns lost at home to relegation threatened Torpedo Mäsk 3-0. This meant the gap had actually now widened between the top two to 7 points and also meant that they had officially lost their league crown to manager TK5141 and his DIF71sGötecastleuleå team. So congratulations go to them as they now add another league title to their trophy cabinet.

Meanwhile in the relegation zone and as reported already, Torpedo Mäsk who picked up 3 valuable points at Degerhamns and were now only 3 points from the safety of fifth spot, which was currently occupied by Hellmoppers. The Hellmoppers team failed to get any points in round 12 after losing 1-0 at home to relegated Chicken Killers.

On to round 13 and DIF71sGötecastleuleå remained unbeaten in the league after a 1-0 win at home to Degerhamns IF. The loss for Degerhamns sent them down a place and into third as Ölandslaget moved into second after they beat relegated Chicken Killers 3-1 away. Hellmoppers moved up to fourth and eased their relegation fears with a 4-0 away win to bottom club La Coruna. With Torpedo Mask claiming three points away to Akta dobbarna, they have given themselves a real chance of climbing out of the relegation zone on the final day of games. The result left Akta dropping to fifth on 17 points, just 1 point above Torpedo who play La Coruna in their final game, while Akta will be away to the league winners, who will be looking to go through the season unbeaten. Hellmoppers should be safe, but if both Torpedo and Akta win, then Hellmoppers will need a point away to Ölandslaget to be safe.

The final round of games were now upon us and first of all the match between DIF71sGötecastleuleå and Akta dobbarna. DIF7 were looking to go through the league season unbeaten, while Akta needed the points to remain in the top flight, should Torpedo Mask win their game. Despite a valiant effort, Akta were beaten 2-1 away from home, as DIF7 finished off the season in front of their home fans, unbeaten in the league. Akta were now looking over their shoulders to the Torpedo Mask game. Torpedo were playing at home to bottom side La Coruna in a game that the home side were fancied to take the points. It certainly panned out that way, as Torpedo beat La Coruna 6-2, to take all 3 points and leap frog Akta into 5th place, relegating them and ensuring survival for themselves.

Hellmoppers finished off with a 1-0 win over Ölandslaget, which saw them overtake their league rivals into second place and finish as runners-up. So another season comes to an end in the Hattrick league, which sees DIF71sGötecastleuleå take the league title. Next season the top flight will be joined by division 1a winners FK Hokarangen and division 1b winners, Stenstorp Panthers, as well as the play off winner.

We managed to grab a few words from DIF71sGötecastleuleå manager, TK5141, as he celebrated with his team:

XD - Congratulations on the league win, did you ever envision that you would win by such a big margin of 12 points?

Thank you! No, I really hoped for a victory, but I never thought it would be this easy ;)

XD - An unbeaten league season, makes it that bit more special doesn’t it?

It sure does! I don't even understand myself how this could happen, when my last season was so much worse... Or maybe it's stranger this hasn’t happened before ;) I guess I have been favourite to win every game, besides my 1-1-game against Hellmoppers, where I was very lucky. But you also need some luck to actually win (or not lose) every game where you are favourite.

XD - I have to ask, can you explain your team name?

Oh, of course, it's an easy one! It's a mix-up from my favourite soccer- and hockey teams! DIF and 71 is from my favourite hockey-teams Djurgårdens IF and HV71 in Sweden, Göte and Castle is from my favourite soccer-teams IFK Göteborg and Newcastle United, and finally (le)uleå is from my third favourite hockey-team... ;) It's as easy as that! I also did try to fit in Inter, Barcelona, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Black hawks, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers and Montreal Canadians... but I failed...

XD - XCL football again next season, realistically what are your aims, and is there anybody that you would love to be drawn against in your group?
Well... the first time I played I was incredibly close to making it through, against the team who finally won the XCL, in fact both teams in my group got to the semi-finals, and I lost on "fewer goals scored" against the winner. This season I went out against a team who is still fighting for the title again, and I had a lot of injuries, but made it to the second round. I really hope that my team actually could make it all the way. I'm sure there are better teams in the XCL, but that is my hope and aim anyway, I'm sure it's not impossible! I don't have teams that I would love to be drawn against, but for once I would like to avoid the best team/s at least until there actually is very few ones left.

XD - No retirements this season, but any plans to bring in any players?

Always. We have been struggling a bit with our economy. It's hard to afford players that will make an impact on your team without losing to much in the long run. So mostly we wait until we find a very good opportunity for someone. If you want to survive in the long run, which is my aim since I have spent over 6 years with this very team now, it's more important to make good deals than to get good players.

XD - Where do you see your team and yourself in 2-3 seasons time as players start to retire?

Oh, don't even want to think about it... please let me live alone in my in denial!!

XD - Congratulations once again on the title, is there anything you would like to add or say to your fellow managers?
Thank you :) Not really... or thanks for letting me win, it makes me happy :) Please continue that way :)

*Please note, Kattem have now changed their name to Hullcastle United FC

Two teams from division one met at the Xpert Arena to fight it out for the Hattrick league cup. Referee Dick Tator got the game underway and it wasn’t long before one team was cheering louder than the other. In the third minute of play, FK Hokarangen were awarded a corner kick. Forward Basil Stoned out jumped the defence and sent the header goal wards, to put them 1-0 up.

FK Hokarangen went close to doubling their lead in the 9th minute, but captain Herbert Fallbrinks shot, outside the area went wide of the target. A minute later and Hokarangen midfielder Pospisil sent a header just wide of the post. It was Hokarangen that was doing all the pressing, looking dangerous all the time and were denied a goal in the 15th minute when a volley by forward Kadlec was disallowed for a doubtful offside decision.

Kattem were given a life line and were still in this match, but they just couldn’t fashion themselves a chance on goal and was getting frustrated, which showed in the 24th minute when Kattem defender Lingongren was booked for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Kattem then picked up another yellow card, this time to defender Carlberg in the 36th minute for stamping

The first half came to an end, and on the performance so far, Kattem needed to come out fighting to get themselves back into the game.

H/T FK Hokarangen 1-0 Kattem

Hokarangen was enjoying the lion share of possession and in the 64th minute of play they went close to adding a second, but Kadlecs effort from a tight angle, hit the post. In the 70th minute, Hokarangen suffered an injury to their goalkeeper Ronald Neville, who had to be replaced by the 22 year old 8 skill back up keeper Baroja. The news was not good for Hokarangen as word came from the tunnel that the first choice keeper was to be out for a few weeks, and will definitely miss there crunch league game as they look to secure top spot and promotion to the top flight.

Question is now, as far as the final is concerned, could Kattem take advantage of the keeper change and get back into a game that they were struggling in? It was Hokarangen again though that had the next chance at goal, this time a free kick was headed goal wards by Pospisil, but his shot went straight into the keepers arms.

After 80 minutes of football, Kattem finally had a chance at goal. A lob from outside the box by Roald Orjavik had the keeper beat, the fans were on the edge of their seats, was this to be it? Were they to equalize? However it wasn’t to be as the ball hit where the post and crossbar meets. Three minutes later and it was Hokarangen on the attack again as a diving header by Nick Sheron hit the right post.

The Hokarangen fans were whistling for the full time whistle, but referee Dick Tator had indicated that there would be at least 6 minutes of time added on. This gave the Kattem fans some hope of being able to get back into the game, but time was ebbing away. In the 96th minute, FK Hokarangen finally made the tie safe, as they doubled there lead. Jaime Prager sent a direct free kick goal wards that left the Kattem keeper no chance, to make it 2-0.

The final whistle finally blew and it was heartache for Kattem, who was never at the game today and were outclassed by FK Hokarangen, who pick up the silverware and the coveted place in next seasons XCL.
F/T FK Hokarangen 2-0 Kattem

So its commiserations to Kattem, and there new manager Nigrinio, who took over the team early last month. We managed to grab a few words with the manager after the game.

XD - Commiserations on the cup final defeat, but a great achievement to have made the final?
Yeah we did well to get this far but really I'd have to give the players the credit as I've only been here a month or so, to get through the numerous early stages manager-less is a real achievement and shows the togetherness of the squad here.

XD - You must be disappointed at only creating 1 chance at goal?

Unfortunately this time I'd have to give myself the credit here as I instructed the whole team to play cautiously before the game fearing an early onslaught and goal. Needless to say that’s what happened and when it did we failed to get back in the game through our negative attitude.

XD - With hindsight, is there anything you wish you would have done, tactically different?

Without doubt but its easy in hindsight isn’t it we'd all love a time machine and it's easy enough for all to see what we should and shouldn't have done building up to the game. I'd just like to say sorry to the fans that travelled down to see us in what they knew might be our best chance of cup silverware for some time to come and ensure them that in the future I'll be sending their team out to score goals not defend their own.

XD - Relegation from division 1b, do you expect a quick return?

In all honesty I'm not really sure what to expect as it's my first stint in the higher leagues but I expect the competition to be tough at the least so wouldn't like to predict anything before the new season kicked off. Hopefully we can add to the squad in the off-season as I'd like to bring the average age down a bit because to be fair to the lads although their top quality players most are past their best and unfortunately for me their sell-by date so this might have an effect on who we can bring in and therefore our promotion credentials in the near future.

XD - Thank you for the interview, is there anything you would like to add or say?
Just to ensure everyone involved with the club that I'll be doing all I can to get us to where all others want to be.

However, its congratulations to manager cadge and his FK Hokarangen team on a fine cup win, which was doubled up with promotion to the top flight after winning division 1a. We managed to grab a few words from the jubilant manager:

XD - Congratulations on the cup final win, you must be thrilled to get your hands on the silverware?

Thank you very much! Of course I am thrilled by winning a title especially when I was not expecting it.

XD - Did you expect to dominate the match like you did?

I was afraid of the other team which I ranked to be better than my team. I thought it was going to be 50/50 which team was going to win.

XD - The win was marred with an injury to your keeper, especially with an important league game coming up?

Of course I was not happy about it and really worried about the next important game in the league. At the same time I was happy that I won a title.

XD - You managed to hold on to the top spot and win Division 1a, you must be looking forward to the challenge of the top flight?

My goal was always to play in the highest league and it will be exciting now I have made it.

XD - What are your aims, realistically in the top flight next season? Avoid relegation or do you think you can push higher?

It will be my first season in the highest league so of course my first goal is to avoid relegation but you will never know.

XD - XCL football to look forward to, is there anyone you would love to be drawn against in your group?

I think all teams are very good so it will be difficult against all teams.

XD - Thanks for taking time out to speak to us, is there anything you would like to add or say to your fellow managers?

Keep on dreaming about a title. It is possible to win. I started my team in division 8 or 9.

So another season in the Hattrick comes to an end, and I would like to thank the managers once again for taking time out to answer questions for the XD.